oncology nursing or gastrointestinal/GI lab nursing

[neemuenurse]

Hello! I need advice. I am a new grad and have been offered a job in oncology nursing and a job in gastro. Both sound wonderful, but both very different. One job would be 3 12s 7p to 7a on a set 3 days in a row , with no weekends and no on call, but some holidays. The other 5 days a week, with mandatory OT, not knowing your exact hours each day until you call in the night before, on call 6 times a month, with weekends and holidays off, but one weekend is on call. Pay and benefits about the same, but two different hospitals with good reputations. Have shadowed both, and both seem great. Any advice from those who have worked either or both? Thank you.

[CarryThatWeight, BSN]

All that on call sounds like a nightmare.

[brownbook]

Totally agree with CarryThatWeight....is the gastro job the one with not knowing your hours, mandatory overtime, and call? That sounds crazy awful!

[Cricket183, BSN, RN]

I'd say go with the oncology position but that's just because that's where I went as a new grad and I found my niche there. Spent my career there and looking forward to going back one day hopefully.

On a more serious note, the choice is yours but I personally would prefer a set schedule. I also prefer 12 hour shifts and night shift. I'm a night owl by nature--always have been. I also like things planned out in advance and would hate the idea of calling in the night before to find out my hours. If you are single and don't have to worry about family, childcare, etc that may not be an issue for you.

[Angelicamarie]

I chose to go into Onc as a new grad. I want to end up in psych as an NP so I feel like there is overlap with my interests (grief, anxiety, depression r/t cancer). It also gives me the med-surg experience I want as a new grad. The unit I work in is small and the nurses are all amazing. I did a clinical there and they were great to me as a student. I felt like I learned a lot there as a student and am sure I will continue to do so. My biased opinion says go for Onc but it is emotionally rough at times!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I'd go where you think you have the opportunity to learn the most. I work endo/GI at a stand alone center, and it is pretty specialized. If I were a new grad, I'd want something with more diverse content.

If the oncology is the one with the 3 12s, I'd take that over the other one, but I don't like working so many days. It's a personal preference, and the on call stuff sounds particularly onerous.